This article was published on December 28, 2024, and written by Liane Pelissier, Family Councils Ontario Client Services Manager. Find the original article here: https://www.thespec.com/life/health-wellness/make-the-move-into-long-term-care-with-confidence-and-empowerment/article_621f9393-8c3b-59ed-9563-dcee761de827.html
Submitted on behalf of Hamilton Council on Aging. https://coahamilton.ca.
If you need long-term care guidance, you can read the navigation guide online https://hubs.ly/Q02TwYq10 or contact Family Councils Ontario by phone: 647-427-5551
As a Resident and Family Services Coordinator, I had been assisting families as they moved their loved ones into long-term care (LTC) for 15 years. I knew the processes, the paperwork involved, and everything else there was to know about LTC, by heart. But when it came time to bring my dad to his long-term care home, I found I lost all sense of direction. I became completely overwhelmed with the newfound complexity that my emotions had added. Although I had often spoken words of comfort and guidance to others in similar situations, I never truly knew the deep emotional impact of moving a loved one into long-term care.
Although there have been some great strides and positive steps made in improving the overburdened long-term care sector, there still seems to be a disconnect. There is little-to-no continuity, as all the individuals and organizations involved in the LTC process seem to be working in silos. From doctors' visits to tours of potential homes, to help with necessary legal documents; families are required to jump from silo to silo with the empty spaces of the unknown in between. This process can be very frustrating, frightening and possibly lead to misconceptions and false narratives as families try to figure out what comes next.
As I had to navigate this system that I had been a part of for so long, I quickly realized that move-in day was more than just checking off a to do list. Of course, there were forms that needed to be signed and information that needed to be communicated, but this was procedural, and the offered information was plentiful but often very overwhelming. I had all this training and LTC knowledge. I regularly supported families on move-in day. But I had become derailed by the very same emotions I had seen in others. I asked myself, if I felt this way with all of my years of experience under my belt, how did families that had no knowledge, no previous experience, and no support ever get through the process?
There is a lot of great information out there. However, much of the resources and information available are specific to certain organizations and agendas. Ontario families needed something to help bridge the gap. Excited by the idea that I could do something to help others, the team at Family Councils of Ontario began to develop the missing piece. An all-in-one guide to navigating through the emotional journey and being better prepared to handle the long-term care system. This was something that was desperately needed in the long-term care sector.
Making the Move to Long-Term Care: A Practical Navigation Guide for Ontario Families took us just over two years to create. During that time, we carefully considered everything you might need to know about the long-term care journey and filled the guide with tips and ideas to help you make the move with confidence and forethought.
Being well-prepared is an incredible tool that will help you feel empowered to ask questions and make informed decisions. As well as enabling caregivers to be an integral part of the care team for their loved one.
Now as I said, being in the know helps but there is still that emotional piece. To help people see that they are not alone, I decided to share the details of my journey in the guide. By sharing my experience of moving my dad into long-term care, my hope is that caregivers will be aware of that deep emotional impact and to find ways for self-care, peer support and for staff to provide comfort, empathy and understanding.
